About 103 birds and turtles protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act were rescued from a pet shop in Moti Nagar in the national capital on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) after animal activists informed the police about it. The rescued birds and animals include 54 parakeets, 49 turtles and the Indian Star Tortoise, said Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
“Legal action is under way. The animals are under veterinary care and will be released into the wild once cleared,” Mr. Sirsa said in a post on X, thanking Delhi Police and people who spoke up about it.
Animal activists Manjira Banerjee and Sahil Sharma informed the police about the illegal trade and were present when the raid happened. Mr. Sharma, a Punjab-based animal activist, said that he planned the operation after receiving hundreds of online complaints regarding alleged illegal wildlife trading in the area.
Published - October 22, 2026 02:30 am IST